This article explains how to disable the function "Optional connected experiences" in Microsoft.

The article provides a list of Microsoft applications that can be disrupted after turning off the function "Optional connected experiences".

Overview

Microsoft 365 has several features, called "connected experiences", that are backed by cloud-based services.

If you do not want to use those features, you can disable them from any Microsoft 365 application (such as Word or Excel, for example). 

To know more about Microsoft-connected experiences, please visit the Microsoft Support page “Connected experiences in Microsoft 365” (external source).

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How to disable optional connected experiences

This feature can be disabled from: 

• The web version of a Microsoft application (Word online, for example)
• Microsoft 365 desktop application for Windows
• Microsoft 365 desktop application for Mac (Apple macOS)

Disabling optional connected experiences from any browser

1. Open the web version of Outlook

2. Select the App launcher from the top-left corner of the browser window

3. Select an application (Word or Excel, for example)

4. Select the File button from the toolbar

5. Select Info from the drop-down menu

6. Select Privacy settings

7. Untick the box “Turn on optional connected experiences”

8. Select OK to confirm your choice

9. Microsoft will ask you to refresh your browser tab – please do it to apply the changes

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Disabling optional connected experiences from Microsoft 365 for Windows

1. Open one of Microsoft 365 desktop applications (for example Word or Excel)

2. Select the File button from the toolbar

3. Select Options 

4. Select Trust Center 

5. Select the Trust Center Settings button

6. Select Privacy Options from the sidebar on the left 

7. Select the Privacy Settings... button

8. Untick the box “Turn on optional connected experiences”

9. Select the OK button to confirm your choice. You will be asked to restart Office to apply the changes – select the OK button to go ahead

10. Select OK to close the Privacy Options settings screen

11. Select OK to close the Trust Centre settings screen

12. Restart Office as follows:

1. Close the application (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, …) you are using
2. Open it again. The changes done to your Privacy Options and your Microsoft connected experiences are live now

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Disabling optional connected experiences from Microsoft 365 for Apple Mac

1. Open one of Microsoft 365 desktop applications (for example Word or Excel)

2. Select Preferences… from the menu bar

3. Select Privacy from the “Personal Settings” section

4. Untick the box “Turn on optional connected experiences”

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Impact of disabling the connected experiences option

If you disable this option, you will probably see that the following features will no longer function or work as expected:

Feature	Possible disruptions after disabling the option	Notes based on iSolutions testing
Office store add-ons	No longer works
Insert online pictures in Word	No longer works	This feature is likely to be used by University of Southampton members. Without this feature, users may add more inappropriate or copyright-contentious images from other sources.
Help in office apps	No longer accessible
Insert online video	No longer works	This feature is quite likely to be used by University of Southampton members. Without this feature, users may add more inappropriate or copyright-contentious videos from other sources.
3D Maps	No longer works	This button no longer appears for me in Excel. This feature allows users to create 3d map visualizations based on Excel data and is likely to be useful for student projects or other educational purposes.
Map charts	No longer works	Map charts is an Excel feature to create maps from data. This is likely to be useful for many education areas and users are likely to go elsewhere to unsupported tools for this feature.
Insert Online 3D Models	No longer works	Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook support inserting 3D models directly into your documents, workbooks or presentations to illustrate a point. This is likely to be useful for many education areas and users are likely to go elsewhere to unsupported tools for this feature. Since stock models are only available using this tool, the level of usefulness may be fairly low.
PowerPoint QuickStarter	No longer works	PowerPoint QuickStarter builds an outline to help you get started researching a subject of your choosing. The option to start using this tool is no longer visible. This tool helps users get started with building a slide deck. Without it, users may request the more expensive 365 Copilot service.
Researcher	No longer works	Researcher helps you find and cite reliable sources for your research paper in just a few steps. This is a research / citation service. Users are more likely to use tools like Endpoint for this purpose.
Smart Lookup	Might work	This tool is not meant to work following the change, but still does for some users. It allows you to look up words and find out where they are referenced in other documents you have access to.
Similarity Checker	No button appears	iSolutions staff cannot find a button for similarity checker since the change.  Turnitin is more likely to be used by staff.  This option might be useful for students to assess the similarity of their work before submitting an assignment such that they can be sure they are using references correctly.

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Other services linked to connected experiences

The following table provides a list of connected experiences that download online content and might not work as expected after disabling the connected experience option.

The table provides links to more information and duplicates the content published on the Microsoft Learn page “Connected experiences in Office - Microsoft 365 Apps”. 

Name	More information
Cloud fonts	Cloud fonts in Office
FAQs	When you choose Settings > Help & Feedback > FAQs on Outlook for iOS and Android, you're taken to either Outlook for iOS Help or Outlook for Android Help
Ink effects	Draw and write with ink in Office
Insert icons	Insert icons in Microsoft 365
Insert Microsoft Forms	Insert a form or quiz into PowerPoint
Insert online 3D models	Get creative with 3D models
Insert online pictures	Insert pictures (Word) Insert a picture in PowerPoint
Insert online video	Insert a video from YouTube or another site
Interesting calendars	Subscribe to a calendar about your favourite sports teams or TV shows on Outlook for iOS and Android
Location suggestions	When you add a public place with a street address to a calendar item, Outlook for iOS and Android also includes the full street address in the Location field
Map in event details	The event details page shows a map based on the address of the location of the event on Outlook for iOS and Android
Office Help	When you choose Help > Help on the ribbon or use F1 in an Office app
Online shape search	Find more shapes and stencils
PowerPoint QuickStarter	Research a topic with PowerPoint QuickStarter
Researcher	Research your paper easily within Word
Tell Me	Do things quickly with Tell Me
Templates	Download free, pre-built templates
Travel time estimates in Up Next	When you choose to allow Outlook for iOS and Android to access your location, an estimate of your travel time to your next event will be included in the Up Next card at the top of your inbox. What happens to your data when you turn Time to Leave on and connect to Cortana?
Weather Bar	Change the calendar Weather Bar forecast city
Weather on calendar	How do I turn on weather on calendar on Outlook mobile?

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Related content

View my privacy options in the Microsoft Office Trust Center  (external source)

Connected experiences in Office - Microsoft 365 Apps (external source)

Overview of optional connected experiences in Office (external source)